Folding crate or box.



A'..VON SCHLUEMBACH. FOLDING CRATE 0R BOX.

APPLICATION man NOV. 9, 1912.

Patented May 11, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1 INVENTOI? A TTUHNEY A. VON SCHLUEMBACH.

FOLDING CRATE 0R BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, I912.

Patented May 11, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

A. VON SCHLUENIBACH.

FOLDING CRATE 0R BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9. 1912.

Patented May 11, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- MUM.

WI TIVE SSE S:

I? TTORNEV and useful improvements in. Folding Crates is cr mes.

ADOLPH VON SCHLUEMBACH, F ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANLL FOLDING CRATE OR BOX.

arsenic.

Specification of Letters Fatent.

Patented liliay M, 11915.

Application filed November 9, 1912. Serial No. 730,346.

To all whom it may concern Be it known. that l, ADoLPH v01 SGHLUEM- BACH, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Altoona, cbunty ofBlair, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new or Boxes, of which the following is a specicollapsed or folded to occupy but littlespace fication.

My invention relates to folding boxes and particularly to folding boxes adapted to be made of sheet material such as tin, reinforced pasteboard or the like.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved folding box particularly adapted for use as a cake or cracker box in place of the usual tin display boxessuch as are employed by retail dealers.

n further object of my invention is to provide a box or carton of the character mentioned in which the cakes or crackers may be supplied by the whole sale dealer to the retail dealer, and which may be readily for returning to the former after being emptied.

. A further and particular object of my invention is to provide a box or crate as mentioned having foldable sides and hinged sides, in which the latter lock the former in extended position and in which the foldable sides are equipped with means to tightly closethe joint between the sections thereof when in extended position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device characterized as above mentioned in which the sides overlap the top and bottom'members and rest snugly against the same when the box is distended.

-Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention.

consists generally in a box comprising top and bottom members, foldable sides hingedly connected at their upper and lower edges to said top and bottom members respectively, hingedly mounted end members adapted to lock the box in open position, and means on the foldable sides to prevent the same from bowing outwardly and to close the joint be tween the parts thereof;

My invention further consists in a folding box as stated and further characterized by a combination hinge and sliding connection between the foldable sides and the top and bottom members,

Mv invention further contemplates the use of paste-board for either the sides or end members or both, the same being suitably reinforced with sheet metal.

My invention further consists in various details of construction and arrangements of parts all as will be fully describedhereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this'specification and in which I Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of a box embodying my invention in its preferred form and illustrating the same in extended or unfolded position, Fig. 2 is a simi lar section illustrating the box in' folded position, Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the box in extended position,

Referring now to the drawings, 1 indicates the top member of thedevice and 2 the bottom member. The top member 1 comprises a rectangular frame, preferably formed-of sheet metal, and hingedly connected to the frame 1 is a lid or closure 3. The bottom member 2 comprises a flat bottom proper 4 and an upwardly extending peripheral flange 5. I

The bottom and top members are connected by the foldable sides 6 each of which comprises an upper section 7 and a lower section ,8 hingedly connected to the members 1 and 2 respectively as will be fully described hereinafter, and'hingedly joined together as at 9. In the preferred construction of the de-' vice the hinge members 9 are formed with abutting shoulders 10 which prevent the sides 6 from bowing outwardly when the device is in use. The members 7 and 8 are each formed with end flanges 11 at right angles thereto, and it is through the medium of these flanges that the sides are connected to the top and bottom members 1 and i. To this end, the ends of said flanges adjacent the respective members 1 and 2 are provided with outwardly extending studs 12 which project through apertures 13 formed in the apertures 13 are elongated forming slots for the reception of the studs 12. The studs 12 are preferably rivets with washers interposed between the heads thereof and the adjacent box members. By this construction it is obvious that the studs may slide inwardly in the slots 13 to permit the edges of the side members to swing freely of the top and bottom members; and that they may slide to the outer ends of the slots when the box is opened or distended to bring the sides snugly against the members 1 and 5. It should be noted that the slots 18 in the flange 5 are inwardly and downwardly inclined in order that the lower side members 8, that is, the flanges 11 thereof, may rest closely in the bottom 2 when the box is folded. The adjacent edges of the upper and lower side members 7 and 8 overlap preferably with the lower edge of the upper member 7 within the upper edge of the lower member 8, and the hinges 9 are arranged with the axes slightly above the upper edge of the member 8. 3y this construction a tongue or flange lt is provided on the lower edge of the member 7 and extending the full width thereof which effectually closes the joint between said members and prevents outward bowing of the sides intermediate the hinges. The flange 14L will also prevent bowing of the sides for its entire length should the hinges 9 be constructed without the shoulders 10.

Hingedly connected to the top or bottom member 2, prereral'il y the former, are front and rear end members 15 and 1G respectively. These preferably extend above the upper edge of the member 7 and are provided at their upper ends with ears or lugs 17 which are bent at right angles thereto and rest against the sides of the frame 1 to which they are pivotally secured as by the rivets 18. The ends 15 and 16 are of a width sufficient to fit snugly between the sides 6 and press the same against the top and bottom and also to force the flange or tongue 14 against the lower side members 8. The lower side members 8 are provided with bosses 19 adjacent their lower outer ends over which the ends are adapted to spring and which hold said ends locked in open position. The bosses 19 may be struck up from the metal by indenting the same or may be formed of a drop of solder or in any other manner.

To fold the box the ends 16 and 17 are sprung inwardly over the bosses 19 and swung upwardly into the top portion of the box. The sides then collapse inwardly at the hinges 9 and the whole device folds into small compass as shown clearly in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, To open the box, it is but necessary to grasp the top member and give a sharp upper pull on the same. This will dis tend the sides and drop the ends into position to lock the box in open position.

While I prefer to form the box of tin or other suitable sheet metal, it may be made of paste-board, fiber board or the like, suitable reinforcements being provided for the same. In F 7, 8 and 9 I have illustrated a construction of this nature, the several. figures being detailed views illustrating side members of the box.

As shown in Fig. 7 the sides 6 comprises upper and lower sections formed of sheets of press-board, fiber board, or the like, 7 and S, the adjacent edges of which overlap as at 14'. The outer edges of the members 7 and 8 are provided with a metal binding 6 to which are secured hinges 12 for securing the sides to the top and bottom members. 9 indicate hinges connecting the adjacent edges of the members 7 and 8.

In the form shown in Fig. 8 the binding 6 extends entirely around both of the members 7 and 8 and the edges of the portion of the binding of the adjacent members are formed into hinge knuckles 9". Hinge lugs 12" are provided for attaching the sides to the top and bottom.

In the form shown in Fig. 9 the construc tion is similar to that of Fig. 8, except that the binding 6 is formed at the upper and lower edges of the sides with sleeves 1.2 to receive a hinge pin 13, and the portion of the hinge 9 are formed with tongues or flanges 14 which overlap and seal the hinged joint.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-.

1. In a device of the class described, upper and lower members, sides hingedly connected at one end to said members respectively and at their opposite ends to each other, one of said sides being extended beyond the axis of the hinge to overlap the edge of the opposite side, and the edge of per and lower rectangular members, the

former being provided with depending flanges and the latter having upwardly extending flanges, the opposite flanges of said upper member being provided with horizontally disposed-slots and the corresponding flanges of said lower member being provided with upwardly and outwardly extending slots, foldable sides, studs on said sides arranged in said slots, and end members adapted to fit snugly between said sides,

substantially as described.

- 4. In a device of the class described, upper and lower rectan gular' members, the former being provided with depending flanges and the latter having upwardly extending flanges, the opposite flanges of said' upper member being provided with horizontally disposed slots and the corresponding flanges of said lower member being provided with upwardly andoutwardly extending slots, foldable sides, studs on said sides arranged in: said slots, and hingedly mounted end members adapted to fit snugly between said sides, substantially as described.

5, In a device of the class described, upper and lower members, foldable sides hingedly connected to said members, each of said sides comprising an upper and a lower portion hingedly. connected and the adjacent edges of'said portions overlapping throughout their lengths, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, up-

per and lower members, and a pair of fold- 40 able sides hingedly connected 'to said members, each of said sides comprising an upper and a lower portion and hinges connecting. said portions, the axes of said hinges being arranged beyond the edge of one portion and within and at a distance from the adjacent edge of the other portion whereby said .edges overlap throughout their lengths, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, upper and lower members, foldable sides comprising upper and lower hingedly connected sections pivotally connected at their opposite ends to said upper and lower members, ends hingedly connected to one of said upper or lower members and fitting snugly between said sides when the device is in unfolded po- 65 sition, and cooperating flanges upon the adjacent hinged ends of said upper and lower side members to prevent outward bowing of the same, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the class described, up-' per and lower members, foldable sides comprising upper and lower hingedly connected sections pivotally connected at their opposite ends to said upper and lower members, ends hingedly connected to one of said upper or lower members and fitting snugly between said sides when the device is in unfolded position, and the end of one of said hingedly connected sections being extended beyond its juncture with the other of said sections to prevent outward bowin of the foldable side when in set up positlon, substantially as described. r In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADOLPH VON SCHLUEMBACH. Witnesses:

E. E. Horomson, H. O. MADDEN. 

